Method of and apparatus for producing tufted product having unsevered and severed loops



Mai-ch 31, 1959 A J. K. MCCUTCHEN 2,879,729 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TUFTED PRODUCT HAVING UNSEV Filed April 10, 1956 ERED AND SEVERED LOOPS 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

INVENTOR' JOSEPH K. Mc cu TCHEN )mmn H620 fi ww March 1959 J. K. MCCUTCHEN 2,879,729

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TUFTED PRODUCT HAVING UNSEVERED AND SEVERED LOOPS Filed April 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 21 FIG. l5 32 FIG. H F

as 2 2a 32 2 mm M A WM I 39 s a7 IN VENTOR JOSEPH K. McCUTCHEN ATTORN E Y United States Patent METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TUFTED PRODUCT HAVING UNSEVERED AND SEVERED LOOPS Joseph Kelly McCutchen, Ellijay, Ga.

Application April 10, 1956, Serial No. 577,240

15 Claims. (Cl. 112-79) looper serving to produce the unsevered loops and the other looper serving to produce the severed loops when transferred thereto from the first looper.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method which is relatively simple and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout same,

. Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, and parts in section, of a machine embodying loopers and associated elements for practicing the method and showing the loopers in the opened position,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the looper for forming the unsevered loop,

. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 4 is an elevation of the opposite side of th looper,

' Figure 4a is a horizontal section taken on line 4a-4a of Figure 4,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a plan view of the looper for producing the severed loops,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the same,

Figures 9 to 12 inclusive are side elevations, partly diagrammatic, of the two loopers showing their operations for producing unsevered loops,

Figures 13 to 18 inclusive are side elevations, partly diagrammatic, showing the operations of the two loopers for producing an elongated unsevered loop which is.

transferred to the looper upon which it is subsequently severed, completed short unsevered loops which are not transferred to the other looper to be severed thereon, being also shown.

'Figure 19 is a plan view of a section of fabric embodying my design.

I Figure 20 is a vertical section taken on line 20-20 of Figure 19.

Figure 16a is a plan view of the loopers shown in Figure 16, the yarn being shown in horizontal section. 1 Attention is first called to Figure 1, wherein the numeral 25 designates a stationary frame, holding a horiz'ontal top 26, having an opening formed therein to receive the reciprocatory needle, carried by a needle bar,

not shown, which is reciprocated by any conventional 2 means. The openinig in the top 26 permits of the with.- drawal of the formed loops, upon the feed of the fabric. Cooperating with the needle 27 is a presser foot 29. Work feed means includes rollers 30 and 31 mounted upon the frame 25 and the roller 31 is turned in the direction of the arrow, intermittently, to effecfa stepby-step feed of the fabric or work 32. When the needle 27 is out of the fabric, the work 32 is fed a step and when the work is at rest, the needle passes through the work. This is the action of a conventional work feed for a sewing machine. The invention is not restricted to the precise form of work feed means shown, as I contemplate using feed dogs as illustrated in the patent,

to Baggett and Gordon, 2,143,678.

The numerals 33 and 34 designate horizontal I shafts, arranged in suitable bearings, and these rock shafts are each turned in opposite directions by the conrock shaft 34. The upstanding supporting element has an upper portion, which upper portion faces upwardly permanently. A retractile coil spring 44 is attached to the outer end of the looper 39 and serves to swing its inner end upwardly and hold the looper 39 against the stop wall 45, while the forward portion of thelooper is spaced from the wall 46, which may be inclined, as shown. The outer end of the looper 39 is connected with a cable 47, passed about a pulley 48 mounted upon a fixed bracket 49. When the cable 47 is pulled down wardly in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, the looper 39 is swung upon its pivot 41 with respect to the arm or crank 43 and its free end or bill 40 is moved to "the lowermost position, beneath its normal position. The

cable 47 may be manually operated or it may be automatically operated. I contemplate embodying the invention in multiple needle machines, in which event a plurality of loopers 39 and cables 47 would be used, and the cables 47 would then be pulled and released by dobby jacks.

the looper 36 with a transverse or vertical recess 52,1

Figures 2 to 4, disposed longitudinally outwardly of the bill 40 and this recess is adapted to receive the laterally bent hook 38 and the hook moves into, through, and out of the recess 52. The inner end of the recess 52' beneath the bill is open, and this open end is generally vertical and arranged next to the looper 36, Figures 4 and 4a.

Coacting with the looper 36' is a blade or cutter 54, having shearing action with the bill 37 of the looper 36, and this blade or cutter is carried by a horizontal rock shaft 55, supported in suitable bearings. The rock shaft 55 is turned in timed order with respect to thelooper 36 to sever the loop or loops upon the bill 37. This cutting means is conventional and is similar to that shown in the Baggett and Gordon patent, 2,143,678,

rock

me'ravao 3 lint"I a1so"conten'iplhte"ntotinting"the blade'or cutter upon thc loo'per 36;

The operation of the machine and the practice of the niethod is as follows: 7

l will first describe thep'roduction of unsevered loops,

andthe 'practic'eof the methodis*illustratedin Figures? te-nmnusive: When 'the"'needle"27 is in'the uppermost po'sition and out'of the fabric, Fig'ure9; the work isfedzr step in the direction of the' arrow and then brought to rest. When theneedle 27is in thefuppen most position, the loopers 36 and 39 are both in the outer position, Figure 9."- The needle 27 now moves dis"\tlnv'vardly and penetrates the work and'when it reaches the'low'ermost" position, the looper 39" moves inwardly and thebillf4tl' movesinto the loop I and the looper 39 rem'ainsin this inner position'when theneedle'27 risesand stays in this inner position until the needle" reaches its uppermost position, Figures 10 and'l I. When the needle 27 moves'to the lowermost position, Figure 10,

the-bill 40'has entered the'loop, a'sdescribed, and when theneedle rises somewhat sothat it'is'out ofthe way of the'bill'37, then the bill 37, Figure 11, moves inwardly toward the path of travel of the needle and upon oneside of'the bill 40 and outwardly ofand'in close relation toth e side-S of the loop L. The hook 38 is now arranged below the bill 40, Figure'il, and thehottomof the loop L and hence thehook 38 and bill 37 cannot enter the loop formed upon the bill 40. The laterally bent hook38 travels beneath the bill 40 and moves'into the recess 52 through its inneropen'verti'cal end and when the loopers 36 an'd 39'are again nioved'to the open position, Figure 12, the hook 38 passes frointhe recess '52, and the'bills 37 and 40 are separated.

Tli'ehook 38 passes through the inner open vertical end of- 'th erecess'iz and'through its open bottom. The hook 3 8 remained beneath theclosed' lowerend of the'loop L The work is traveling to the right, Figure 12, and

since the bill 40 has no'downturned hook thereon, the

loopll will slide from thefree end of the'bill 40, as

it isfed'With the fabric and will not be caught by the bill 37. This operation occurs when thespring 44 retains'the looper in'theraised position with respect to th ecrank or arm 43, Figure 1. I

The" arms or cranks 35 and 43 are swung toward each other and then from each other; When the'needle 27reaches the end'of' its upstroke, the looper 39 starts" to--m'ove inwardly in timed-order with respect to the needle so that thebill enters the loop while the needle is at the bottom of thedownstroke or'while' it has just' started'to'move up, Figure 10, and when the needle moves up a part of its upstroke, the looper 36 then moves to the upstroke, thelooper 39 moves outwardly: and upwardly, before thelooper 36 moves outwardly. Thebill 40 moves into theloop L'before' the bill 37 is shifted'to the inner position,.andboth--bills 40 and 37 arein the innei' 'overlappingJposition, when the needle is at the bottom 'of its down stroke;

The operation of the machine and the practice of the method for producing severed loops is shown in Figures 13, 14,45, 16, 17'and 18.- In Figure13, the loopers'36 and-39 are in the outer positions-and the needle is at the 'topof itsu'p'stroke. The looper'39 is now inthe riised positionwithrespeet to the arin-43 and' isheld' in this position-by the sprin'g 44: The needle- 27 descends ahtl' passes through the work and when it reaches the end" of 'its downstrokea the 43 S gs 3109p wardlylso-that-its :bilMflenters the :loop L,= but the looper 36 is still in the outer position. After the bill 40 has enteredwhe loop L, the'"cable"47' is"pu'lled"d'ow'n and'the bill 40 swung to the lowered" position with respect to the arm 43 and looper 36 and pulls the loop L down a short distance, Figure 15. The cable 47 holds the bill 40 in the lowered position, Figure 16, and the looper 36 then moves inwardly and enters th'e 'loop L, since its hook 38 is laterally bent toward the looper 39, and will pass-betweeh th'e-sides of -the-"loop and the hook 33 will also moveintdth'e upper endof'the recess 52in the looper 39. After the bill 37 has thus entered the loop L, the cable 47 isrelease'd and thespring M returns-the looper to the raised position and the bills 37 and 40 will again be in overlapping relation; Figure '17. As the needle continues to rise, the looper-39 movesoutwardly and upwardly and the looper 36 also swings outwardly and its hook 38 passes from the inner open generally vertical end ofthe recess 52, Figure 18. The pulling. and releasing of' the 1oop'er"39with respectto' the arm43' is ofcourse timed with respect to thernovernent ofthe needle and' a'ny suitable Ineans'm'ay' be employed to pull the cable 47 downwardly; the spring 44 returning it tothe raised position:- The"cable'-47' maybe connected with a dobby jack to be operated thereby, which would be the casew'h'ere' the invention is'embodied in a'multiple'needlc machine; but the cable 47 may be manually operated.

Itisthus'seen'thatunseveredloops are formed upon the-bill 40' of'thelooper- 39 and these unsevered loops" are transferred to the 'bill 37 of the looper 36, and are seveted'on'the looper"37 b ythe blade 54. .in'this mannerg ahyl'number'of severed loops may be formed in'succession. The machine can also be operatedfor forming alternate 's'everedand'unsevered loops.

With-respect to'Figures 13m 18 inclusive, it is to'be noted that a plurality of short unsevered loops have been formed, .inacco'rdanc'e' with the operation as explained in Figures '9 to l2-"inclusi've: In'Figure 15, the'long'un severed loop is forrned, by swingingthe bill of the looper 39 downwardlyi' When'the bill 37 of the looper 36"moves forwardly; it moves into the elongated loop and also enter'sthe 'top"of'the'recess 52, Figures 2 and 4. When the looper 39 is returned to 'th'e'horizontal position,.extnsion'38, Figure"7j isbeneath the bill 40. The long loop is now applied to the looper 37 and when the looper 37 is moved to theopen position',' Figure18; the long loop remains 'upon'the looper 37'and the extension 38'passes from the open side of the recess 52, Figures 4 and'4iz. The longloop" and any subsequentlong loops which are entered by the looper 37 remain upon the looper 37 and are'sub'sequentlysevered, as theselong'loops are fed toward the closed end of the looper 37, as is well known ih thearty It is to be understood that the form ofthe machine herewith shownand described is to'be taken as a-preferred embodiment'of the'same; and that various changes in th'e shap'e; size andarrangement of parts may beresorted 'to,- and thatchang'es'may be'made in the order" of the steps of the method, without departing from the" spirit' of niyifiventibnor the'scope' of the subjoin'ed claims." t

Having thns de'scribed my invention, I claim:

13 Ameth'odof prodncingunseVered and severedl'o'ops upona fabric; comprising? forming; in succession a pin rality'bf Io'opsupon' the fabric andapplying each" loop when formed upon a looper removingeach'loop"from" thelooper toform a'nuns'everedloop', forminginsuccession a plurality ofloops 'upon-the'fabric, applying each of"the"last-nanied"loopswhen formed uponthe same looper upon whichthe first-namedloopswere applied, transferring eacli lasbnatued loop, from thefirstlooper to 'a second' looper, and -then severing=.each transferred lepgwnil'u on the secenuloopera 23 -A"-metho'cl"of protlucing iunsevered -and severed loopsupon a fabrie, comprisingifo'rming" in succession" a plurality of-loops' uponthe fabric, moving a first looperiinto' each loop when formed, removing each loop from the first looper to form an unsevered loop, forming in succession a plurality of second loops upon the fabric, moving the first looper into each of the second loops when formed, transferring each second loop from the first looper to a second looper, and then severing each transferred second loop while it is upon the second looper.

3. A method of producing unsevered and severed loops upon a fabric, comprising sewing a loop in the fabric and applying the loop to a first looper, removing the loop from the first looper to form an unsevered loop, sewing a second loop in the fabric and applying the second loop upon the first looper, transferring the second loop from the first looper to a second looper, and then severing the transferred second loop while it is upon the second looper.

4. A method of producing unsevered and severed loops upon a fabric, comprising forming a first loop upon the fabric and moving a first looper into the first loop, removing the first loop from the first looper to form an unsevered loop, forming a second loop upon the fabric and moving the first looper into the second loop, transferring the second loop from the first looper to a second looper, and then severing the transferred second loop while it is upon the second looper.

5. A method of producing unsevered and severed loops upon a fabric, comprising sewing a first loop in the fabric, moving a first looper toward the first loop and causing the bill of such first looper to enter the first loop, moving a second looper toward the first loop while it is held upon the bill of the first looper and causing the free end of the bill of the second looper to travel beneath the first loop held upon the bill of the first looper so that the bill of the second looper will not enter said first loop, effecting a relative opening movement between the loopers and causing the first loop to pass from the bill of the first looper to form an unsevered loop, sewing a second loop in the fabric and moving the bill of the first looper into the second loop, moving the second looper toward the second loop while it is held upon the bill of the first looper and causing the free end of the bill of the second looper to pass above the bill of the first looper and enter the second loop upon the bill of the first looper, and then effecting a relative opening movement between said loopers which causes the second loop to be transferred to the bill of the second looper, and then severing the second loop while on the bill of the second looper.

6. A method of producing unsevered and severed loops upon a fabric, comprising sewing a first loop in the fabric, feeding the fabric a step after sewing such loop, arranging a first looper near the fabric and having the bill of the first looper extending toward the direction of the feed of the fabric and moving the first looper toward the first loop and causing the bill of such first looper to enter the first loop, arranging a second looper near such fabric and causing the bill of the second looper to face in an opposite direction to the feed of the fabric and moving the second looper toward the first loop while it is held upon the bill of the first looper and causing the free end of the bill of the second looper to travel beneath the first loop held upon the bill of the first looper so that the bill of the second looper will not enter said first loop, elfecting a relative opening movement between the loopers and causing the first loop to pass from the bill of the first looper to form an unsevered loop, sewing a second loop in the fabric and moving the bill of thefirst looper into the second loop, moving the second looper toward the second loop while it is held upon the bill of the first looper and causing the free end of the bill of the second looper to pass above the bill of the first looper and enter the second loop upon the bill of the first looper, then effecting a relative opening movement between said loopers and thereby causing the second loop to be transferred to the bill of the second looper, and then severing the second loop while on the bill of the second looper.

7. A method of producing unsevered and severed loops upon a fabric, comprising sewing in succession loops, feeding the fabric in one direction a step after each loop has been formed, holding a first looper so that its bill faces in the direction of the feed of the fabric and moving the first looper so that its bill enters each loop in succession, holding a second looper so that its bill faces in an opposite direction to the feed of the fabric and moving the second looper toward the first looper in succession and causing the bill of the second looper to remain exteriorly of certain loops held upon the bill of the first looper, moving the second looper toward the first looper and then causing the bill of the second looper to enter.

certain loops arranged upon the bill of the first looper and thereby transferring such loops to the bill of the second looper, and then severing in succession loops held upon the bill of the second looper.

8. A method of producing unsevered and severed loops upon a fabric, comprising sewing loops in the fabric, feeding the fabric in one direction during the sewing operation, holding a first looper so that its bill faces in the direction of feed of the fabric, holding a second looper near and opposite the first looper and having its bill facing in the opposite direction to the feed of the fabric, reciprocating the first looper in a path of travel at a fixed elevation and causing the bill of the first looper" to enter certain of the loops, reciprocating the second looper in a path of travel at a fixed elevation and causing the free end of the bill of the second looper to pass beneath and exteriorly of the loop upon the bill of the first looper and thereby causing the loop upon the bill of the first looper to pass therefrom without passing upon the bill of the second looper, then moving the first looper in the fixed path of travel and causing its bill to enter the loop, moving the bill of the first looper downwardly when such bill is in the loop, then moving the second looper in the fixed path of travel toward the first looper and causing the bill of the second looper to pass above the bill of the first looper which is then in the lowered position, then returning the bill of the first looper to the raised position, and then moving the first and second loopers from each other whereby the loop is transferred to the second looper, and then severing the loop upon the second looper.

9. In a tufting machine, a work support, a work feed means, a reciprocatory needle bar carrying a needle to sew loops in the work, a looper arranged near the work support and including a bill to enter the loops, said looper having an upstanding recess upon one side arranged behind the bill, said recess having a top and its side next to the bill open, a pivoted reciprocatory support, means to pivotally mount the looper upon the support, means to move the looper with respect to the support so that the elevation of its bill is varied with relation to said support, a second looper arranged opposite the first looper and including a bill having a depending hook at its free end, the hook being laterally offset with respect to the bill in a direction toward said recess, and a pivoted reciprocatory support carrying the second looper, and means to sever the loops upon the second looper.

10. In a tufting machine, as a sub-combination, a looper having a bill and an upstanding recess arranged rearwardly of the bill, said recess extending downwardly below the bill, the top of the recess and its forward side being open, and a coacting looper including a bill provided with a downwardly extending hook at its free'end, said hook being offset laterally toward the recess.

11. In a tufting machine, a work support, work feed means, a reciprocatory needle bar carrying a needle to sew loops in the work, a looper arranged near the work support and including a bill to enter the loops, said looper having an upstanding recess upon one side and arranged behind the bill, said recess having its top and forward side open, a reciprocatory support, means pivotally mounting the looper upon the support, a spring to hold the looper in one position with respect to the support, means connected with the pivoted looper to swing the pivoted looper to an adjusted position with relation to the support, a second' looper arranged near and opposite the first looper and including a bill having a depending hook at its free end, the hook being extended laterally with respect to the bill toward said recess, a reciprocatory support carrying the second looper, and means to sever loops upon the second looper.

12. In a tufting machine, a work support, work feed means, a first upstanding arm arranged beneath the work support, means for pivotally supporting the first upstanding arm and reciprocating the same in a substantially vertical plane, a first looper facing in an opposite direction to the work feed and mounted upon the upper end of said first arm and movable with the first arm and including a bill provided near its free end with a laterally,

extending hook, a second upstanding arm arranged opposite to the first upstanding arm, means for pivotally supporting and reciprocating the second upstanding arm in a substantially vertical plane, a second looper pivotally mounted upon the upper end of the second arm and provided with a bill facing in the direction of the Work feed, the second bill being free from a hook so that the loop applied to the second bill may be removed from the same by the movement of the loop with the work, the second looper being provided with an upstanding recess arranged near and rearwardly of the second bill, said recess extending transversely of the looper and having its upper end open and its forward side open, said recess being adapted to receive said hook, means to hold the second looper in a position with relation to the second arm to raise the free end of its bill so that the book of the first looper will travel beneath the second bill when said loopers are moved toward each other and will not enter the loop on the second looper, and means to move the second looper with respect to the second arm to lower the free end of the second bill so that the hook of the first looper will pass above the bill of the second looper and enter the loop upon the second looper when the loopers are moved toward each other.

13. In a tufting machine, a work support, work feed means, means arranged above the work support and including a needle to sew loops in the work, an upstanding reciprocatory supporting element mounted beneath the work support and including an upper portion arranged near the work support and moving longitudinally of the work support, said upper portionfacing upwardly permanently, means to reciprocate the supporting element, at looper including a bill to enter the loops, means to adjustably mount the looper upon said upper portion so that the looper travels with the upper portion and is permanently movable with relation to said upper portion for raising and lowering said bill, means separate from the reciprocating means and connected with the looper to move the same with relation to said upper portion, a second looper arranged beneath the work support near and opposite to the first looper and including a bill having a free end, means to support and reciprocate thesecond looper, and means to sever loops upon the second loops, means to adjustably mount the looper upon the upper portion so that the looper travels with the upper portion and is permanently movable with relation to said upper portion for raising and lowering said bill, means separate from the supporting and reciprocating means and connected with the looper to move the same with relation to said upper portion, a second looper arranged near and beneath the work support and opposite to the first looper and including a bill having a free end, means to support and reciprocate the second looper, and means to sever loops upon the second looper.

15. In a tufting machine, a work support, work feed means, means arranged above the work support including a reciprocatory needle to sew loops in the work, a looper arranged beneath and near the work support and including a bill facing in a direction opposite to the feed of the work and having a downwardly extending hook near its free end, means to support and reciprocate the looper, means to enter the loops formed by the needle and transfer the same to the first-named looper, the lastnamed means including a reciprocatory support, a looper facing in the same direction with the feed of the work, means to adjustably mount the last-named looper upon said reciprocatory support so that the last-named looper is permanently movable with relation to said reciprocatory support to vary the elevation of the inner end of the last-named looper, means connected with the lastnamed looper to move it with relation to said support,

and means to sever the loops transferred to the first-.

named looper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,292 Gladish May 2, 1933 2,194,876 Sparks Mar. 26, 1940' 2,260,896 Goodman et al Oct. 28, 1941 2,423,607 McCutchen July 8, 1947 2,482,683 Moore Sept. 20, 1949- 2,513,261 Behrens June 27, 1950 2,759,443 Hunt Aug. 21, 1956 

